Visit Spokane, Lime join forces to encourage ‘accidental discoveries’ in city neighborhoods

Getting to new places in Spokane on Lime scooters is a little easier, thanks to a partnership between the company and Visit Spokane.

Called Scoot Spokane, the collaboration is intended to help people “make accidental discoveries,” said Jonathan Hopkins, director of strategic development for Lime.

“Somebody can become delightfully lost in a city,” Hopkins said. “It could be their own city, or they could be a visitor.”

More specifically, the partnership will provide visitors with information on where to find Lime scooters and how to use them safely.

The organizations have created itineraries for four “districts within Spokane that may be a little far for some to walk, thus making them the perfect scooting distance.”

Each itinerary has a map, and “scoot facts” like distance, time and the cost to get there. They also provide what to see and do when scooter users arrive.

For instance, the itinerary for the Garland District says the 2.5-mile trip from Riverfront Park to the neighborhood would cost $5.50. It notes that “visitors can explore art galleries and antique shops while stopping in at record and book stores all under the shadow of some of the city’s beloved landmarks.” It recommends taking in a “cult classic” at the Garland Theater and eating at Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle.

“Teaming up with Lime made perfect sense,” Meg Winchester, head of Visit Spokane, said in a statement. “The itineraries we created will help visitors see Spokane from a totally different view, plus having a designated Lime parking area in front of our visitor center will hopefully bring more people through to learn about our destination.”

Hopkins said the collaboration’s itineraries will likely expand beyond the current offerings of Kendall Yards, Browne’s Addition, South Perry and Garland.

The collaboration fits in well with the “Unlock Life” campaign recently launched by the California-based shared mobility company, which is valued at $2.4 billion. Hopkins said Lime sees itself as more than a scooter company, and pointed to the company’s mission statement to “re-imagine urban life through the wonder of mobility.”

Lime’s chief marketing officer, Duke Stump, told Forbes this month the company defines “mobility” as “a variety of interconnected attributes including freedom, sustainability, connection, community, safety, transit equity, urban design and yes, joy.”

In this way, the Spokane partnership makes sense.

Overall, about 40% of Lime trips go to dining or entertainment destinations. The new itineraries will help people discover new places to go.

“When people visit a city, it’s really important to make the connections that people can’t see,” Hopkins said. “We can help them see what’s great about your city and see more than their hotel rooms. We just need to help people make accidental discoveries. That is great tourism.”

For more information, visit http://scootspokane.com/.